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The Great Wharf Road Bridge, designed to provide a new access
for traffic into Canary Wharf in London's Docklands, has taken an important step
forward with the installation of the massive hydraulic cylinder that will raise
it to allow ships to pass through West India Quay.
Designed and manufactured by Hunger Hydraulic in Germany to a
brief from consulting engineers Bennett Associates, the 40-tonne ram is believed
to be the biggest installed in the UK. It will lift the north end of the 800
tonne structure 18.2 metres in order to provide a 15 metre x 15 metre navigable
passage beneath.
As part of the design process Bennetts were asked to investigate
various methods of lifting the 67-metre bridge, including the use of portable
equipment stored off site. One of the constraints required no part of the
structure to be within the dock itself. The mechanism being installed was chosen
because it met this criterion and was also simple and cost-effective, according
to project engineer Michael Thorogood.
Bennetts were responsible for the performance and design
specifications for the electrical, hydraulic and mechanical equipment required
to move the bridge, to accompany the exemplar design drawings used by the
contractor for construction detailing. The company also designed the systems for
pedestrian and traffic control. |
